The government has deferred plans for yet another hydrogen town trial, pushing the scheme back until at least after 2026.

The move follows a similar decision to cancel plans to abandon hydrogen schemes in Redcar and Ellesmere Port at the end of last year.

In a statement, the government said it believed low-carbon hydrogen “may have a role to play” in cutting emissions but “in slower time in some locations”, adding that it plans “to take a decision in 2026 on whether, and if so how, hydrogen will contribute to heating decarbonisation”.

Some energy experts believe that the government should focus attention on electric heating solutions in cutting domestic emissions, reserving hydrogen usage for heavy industry.

Juliet Phillips, head of independent climate change thinktank E3G, said: “Discussions on hydrogen for heating are an unhelpful distraction that muddy the waters on the future of how we heat our homes. Widespread use of hydrogen for heating is widely understood to be an extremely expensive and inefficient way to meet net zero targets, which could exacerbate fuel poverty.”

The UK Gas Distribution Networks said: “We welcome the clarity which has been provided on a potential Hydrogen Heating Town and continue to support the need to make use of a range of energy solutions if we are to reach net zero in a fair and affordable way for customers that maintains choice.

“As an industry, we will keep working closely with the government to provide the evidence and expertise required to make an informed decision on the future decarbonisation of home heating.”